Lock and check hook.



J. 0. BAOKUS. LOCK AND CHECK HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 190B.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Witnesses ii is ll'ilhli) slit rarities LFATENT JOHN C. BAOKUS, 0F SiNlETHlORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BAUKUS NOVELTY 00., 01"

SMETHIORT, PEN NSYLVAN lA.

LOCK AND CHECK HOOK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jouv (3. BACKUS,

citizen of the United. States, residing at Sinethport, in the countv of Mcliean and s, I state of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock and Check .llooks, of which the following is a specification.

This present invention relates to safety hooks for wearing apparel, such as hats and coats which are removed indoors, thereby preventing loss or misplaceinent of such articles or the carrying oil of the same through inadvertence or mistake.

The invention provides a novel form of hook, lock-bolt cooperating therewith and lock means for securing the lock-bolt when projected, said lock means embodying a keycheck for identifying tho hook and releasing the lock-bolt and in turn secured when the lock-bolt is retracted or moved away from the hook.

The invention provides a simple, cheap and effective construction for attaining the ends aforesaid and which will prevent removal of the articles suspended from the hook, the construction being such as to increase the gripping action of the hook and lock-bolt proportionately to the degree of force exerted to pull or remove the hat, coat or other article from the hook without first releasing the lock-bolt.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in,

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety f pended upon the hook 1.

hook or check-lock, particularly designed for coats and wraps generally embodying the Fig. 2 is a perspective view of i Fig. 25 is a 1 invention. the same as seen from, the rear. vertical section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification, the front or cap of the casing being removed and showing a different form of hook and lock-bolt, thereby Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1908.

l l l l l l l l Patented May 4, 1909.

SeriaI No. 435,052.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of the kev check in cooperative relation therewith. dig. (5 a perspective view of the lock-bolt. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the shanks of the hook.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The hook 1 is provided at its outer end with a head 2, which is curved at its upper edge throughout its length to conform to the inner surface of a hat crown, thereby preventing injury thereto. The upper curved edge of the head 2 is beveled inwardly and downwardly so as to conform more nearly to the position of the article that may be sus pended from the hook. The shank and curved portion of the hook are of T form in cross section for the sake of lightness and strength, however, it is to be understood that the hook may be of any cross sectional outline so long as it is sulliciently stout to withstand the strain and usage to which subjected. For convenience it is preferred to construct the hook so that it may be detachably connected to the casing, and for this purpose the end portion of the shank is providcd with a stud 8 and a cross head 4, the latter projecting a short distance beyond opposite sides of the shank and the projecting ends being inclined to engage with the inner side of the back plate of easing by a wedging action. The stud 35 is centrally (lisposed and is spaced from the cross head a and acts ointly with said cross head to prevent lateral movement of the hook when. properly positioned.

The lock-bolt 5 is slidably mounted in the casing and is movable toward and from the head 2 of the hook. The lock-bolt projects above and below the casing and is provided at its upper ends with a head to receive the pressure of the hand when depressing or proj ecting the lock-bolt to secure the article sus- The lock-bolt may be of any cross sectional outline and is preferably of T-form in cross section. The lower end of the lock-bolt has a flattened extension (3 which is adapted to enter a depres sion 7 formed in the upper side of the hook adjacent to the head 2. The walls forming the depression 7 llare upwardly, as indicated adapting the device for both hats and coats. most clearly in Fig. 3 and are adapted to c0 operate with the flattened extension 6 of the j lock-bolt to secure the coat, hat or like article l laced upon the hook. The lock-bolt has a mited play toward and from the plane of the head 2, and this is of advantage to pre vent removal of a coat or like article suspended upon the hook. The extremity of the flattened extension 6 generally makes positive engagement with the article suspended upon the hook, and any attempt to remove said article from the hook, when the lock-bolt is depressed or projected, causes the part 6 to move toward the head 2 and thereby grip the article more firmly proportionately to the degree of force exerted in an attempt to remove the coat or other article from the hook. Provision for admitting of the lock-bolt having the limiting play aforesaid may be had either by enlarging the opening in the casing in which the lock-bolt is mounted or by reducing the thickness of the lock-bolt, the latter construction being plainly indicated in Fig. 3.

The casing for receiving the hook 1, look bolt 2 and adjunctive parts, comprises a back plate 8, top and bottom, front flanges 9, rear vertical flanges 10 terminating in outer flanges 11 which are apertured to receive the fastenings by means of which the device is attached to a wall strip or other support, and a front or cap 12, the latter comprising vertical side flanges to close the side spaces between the ends of the top and bottom front flanges 9. Notches are formed in the outer or front edges of the flanges 9 to receive the lock-bolt 5 which is held in place by the front or cap 12. An opening is formed in the back plate 8 near the bottom thereof to receive the stud 3 and cross head 4, said opening being of such formation as to admit of the hook being readily placed in position or removed. Pins 13 and 14 are secured to the back plate 8 and project through openings in the front or cap 12 and receive, respectively, a dog and the spring cooperating with the lock-bolt to hold the same projected and to return said lock-bolt to normal position when released. A spring 15 is coiled between its ends and mounted upon the pin 14, one end being secured to the casing and the other end being connected to the lock-bolt by means of link 16.

The dog for securing both the key-check and the lock-bolt is mounted upon a p n 13 and comprises oppositely extended members 17 and 18. The member 17 projects upwardly and is provided with a lateral extension 19 which projects through an opening in the back plate 8 and is adapted to enter a notch 20 of the key-check 21 and secure the same when the lock-bolt is retracted or thrown upward away from the hook. The member 18 has an extension 22 to ride upon the lock-bolt and hold the member 18 out of engagement with the teeth 23 provided upon 1 a side of the lock-bolt so as to admit of the latter having a limited downward movement preliminary to coming in contact with the article suspended from the hook 1. The lock-bolt is cut away opposite to the toothed portion 23 and when the cut-away portion 2 1- of the lock-bolt comes opposite to the extension 22, the member 18 with the teeth 23 and holds the lock-bolt depressed or in projected position. By n'oviding a series of teeth 23, the lock-bolt, after reaching certain stage in its movement, is locked at each stage of its further depression, whereby provision is had for securing the lock-bolt at different distances from the head 2 to the hook 1 so that coats hats and the like of different bulk, may be firmly gripped or held between the hook 1 and. the lower end of the lock-bolt. A spring 25 is mounted upon the pin 13 and one end is in engagement with the casing and the other end exerts pressure upon the lower member 18 of the dog so as to normally force said member tow rd the lockbolt and thereby hold it positively in engagement with the teeth 23 after the extension 22 comes opposite to the cut away portion 24 of the lock-bolt.

The key-cheek 21 consists of a flat plate having notches in opposite edges, slots in its lower end and grooves in its rear side, said slots and grooves cooperating with projections which are differently positioned, thereby adapting the key-checks for particular hook or check locks, so that no two keys of a system may be alike. A guide 26 is provided in the rear of the casing to receive the key-check and said guide consists of plate having its vertical edges flanged to embrace opposite edges of the key-check, said guide being secured to the back plate of the casing and provided with projecting portions to cooperate with the slots and grooves of the key-check to admit of the proper key-check only being placed in position so as to release the lock-bolt of the check-lock or hook for which designed. The guide 26 projects a short distance above the casing to direct and facilitate the entrance of the key-check when placing the same in position. A trip 27 projected from the dog, passes through an opening in the back plate of the casing and extends across the path. of the key-check and is pressed upon as the key heck reaches the limit of its movement so as to force the lower member 18 of the dog out of engagement with the teeth 23, thereby releasing the lockbolt 5 and permitting the same to be thrown upward or returned to normal position by the action of the spring 15. At the same time that the lower member 18 of the dog releases the lock-bolt, the upper member 17 of the lock-bolt is moved inward so as to cause the extension 19 thereof to enter the notch 20 of the key-check and secure the same and thereby prevent its removal so I long as the lock-bolt is retracted or thrown upward. A plate 28 closes the space in the rear of the guide 26 and between the upper ends of the rear vertical llanges 10, thereby preventing the key-check being dropped accidentally into the space formed in the rear of the casing and between the back plate thereof and the board or support to which the check-lock is attached. Each key-check is provided with a number or other identifying character, and each casing or check-lock is similarly numbered or supplied with a designating mark so that the proper key-check may be applied for opening the lock for which intended. As shown, a tag 29 bearing a numeral or other identifying characters is secured to the casing preferably by means of spurs which are pressed outward from the front or cap 12, said spurs being bent inward to engage with the tag 29 and prevent possible displacement thereof.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the lock-bolt is in U or staple form, one leg 30 extending in front of the casing and spaced therefrom to provide ample clearance for adapting the check-lock or device for the reeeption of hats, the brim passing upward between the casing and the leg 30. The hook cooperating with the leg 30 is substantially the same as that heretofore described, the only difference being that the depression 7 .in the rear of the head 2 is dispensed with and the hook proper is made of a length to cooperate with the cross head at the lower end of the leg 30. The lock-bolts and cooperating hooks are interchangeable and may be used with the same casing and lock device, thereby providing a check-lock specially adapted for coats or hats only, or a combination check-lock for both hats and coats.

To prevent the lock mechanism being picked by the blade of a penknife or other instrument, a guard 31 is placed against the back plate of the casing, said guard being pivoted at 32 and having an extension 33 atits upper end which passes through a slot 34 in said back plate and projects across the path of the key-check to be engaged thereby when placing said key-check in the guide 26. The upper forward corner of the guard 31 is adapted to extend beneath the trip 27 and prevent the member 18 of the dog being disengaged from the lock bolt except by proper use of the key-check which latter, when introduced into the guide 26, engages with the extension 33 of the guard and withdraws the same out of the path of the trip 27, thereby permitting the dog to be operated in the manner herein stated. The lower member of the spring 15 is extended beyond the spur of the casing with which it is in engagement and bears against the lower portion of the guard 31 so as to press the same toward the dog.

llaving thus described the invention, what i is claimed as new is:

l. A check-lock comprising a hook, a lockbolt cooperating with the hook, means for securing the lock-bolt when depressed or projected, and a key-check for effecting release of the lock-bolt and in turn adapted to be secured by the lock-bolt securing means and adapted to be released. when said lock-bolt is depressed or projected, and a guard for preventing operation of the lock bolt securing means until lirst released by the key check.

2. ln combination a plate having an opening formed with a contracted portion, a hook provided with a stud to engage with the plate and prevent turning of the hook, and with a cross head adapted to pass through the opening of said plate and engage with the contracted portion thereof to form securing means for the hook, a lock bolt cooperating with the hook and key-operating .lock means for said lock bolt.

3. In combination, suspending means, a lock bolt cooperating therewith, a dog adapted to interlock with said lock bolt and hold the same projected, a guard having a portion extended into the path of said dog, and a key-check for operating said guard preliminary to effecting disengagement of the said dog from the lock bolt.

-11. In combination, a casing provided with a key and guide, suspending means, a lock bolt cooperating with said suspending means, a dog adapted to interlock with said lock bolt and hold the same projected and having a 'n'ojection extended into the key guide, a guard having a portion extended into the path of said dog and provided with an extension projecting into the aforesaid key-guide, and a key-check for withdrawing the guard from the path of the said dog preliminary to actuating the latter to effect release of the lock bolt.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. BACKUS.

Witnesses:

RALPH E. BURDICK, 011.0 J. 'I'IAMLIN. 

